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Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary

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February 04, 2026

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Environment

Why in News?

Recently, a faunal survey in Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary recorded several species for the first time, significantly enriching its biodiversity profile.

  • It is Kerala’s youngest wildlife sanctuary, known for its rich and diverse fauna.
  • Declared in – 2020.
  • Declared under – The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • Location – Located in the Nilambur Forest Division, Malappuram district, Kerala.
  • Lies on the western slopes of the Nilgiris.
  • River – Named after the Karimpuzha River, a tributary of the Chaliyar River.
  • Habitat – Ranges from low-elevation forests to montane ecosystems, contributing to high species diversity.
  • Topography – Sharp elevation gradient characterised by steep hills, deep valleys, marshy lands, grasslands, and hillocks.
  • Recent survey Findings –

Category

Key Species

New Bird Records
  • Grey heron, Grey-headed fish eagle, Tawny-bellied babbler, blue rock thrush, yellow wagtail, Eurasian hoopoe, Common hawk cuckoo, Barn owl.

New Butterfly Additions
  • Noteworthy records included the –
    • Black angle,
    • Common grass dart,
    • Indian dartlet,
    • Giant red-eye, Moore’s ace,
    • Malabar flash,
    • White-tipped lineblue,
    • Red admiral,
    • Yellow jack sailor,
    • Small leopard,
    • Common sailor,
    • Black rajah,
    • Small grass yellow.

New Odonate Records
  • Odonata is an order of flying insects that includes the dragonflies and damselflies.
  • New species recorded include –
    • Merogomphus tamaracherriensis,
    • Potamarcha congener,
    • Rhodothemis rufa,
    • Tetrathemis platyptera,
    • Urothemis signata,
    • Ceriagrion coromandelianum,
    • Ceriagrion rubiae

New Ecological Observation
  • First-time observation of altitudinal migration of butterflies (Examples - Common albatross, Lesser albatross, Plain puffin).
  • Protected Forests – The sanctuary will comprise the new Amarambalam reserve forest and Vadakkekotta vested forest.
    • Exception – The Manjeri colony of the primitive Cholanaikar tribes has been exempted from the sanctuary.
  • Ecological Significance – Forms a critical ecological landscape between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
  • Wildlife Connectivity – It borders the Mukurthi National Park to the south and the Silent Valley National Park buffer zone to the northeast.

References

  1. TH | Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary
  2.  The Hindu | Karimpuzha sanctuary comes into being

 
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